Pipe joint



Dec. 6, 1927.

E. ET GOLD PIPE JOINT Filed Nov. 20. 1924 INVENTORV J I By Agogtzey -posite end of the. female member of the Patented Dec. 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD E. GOLD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GOLD CAR HEATING & LIGHTING COMPANY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,- A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PIPE JOINT.

Application filed November 20, 1924. Serial No. 750,978.

This invention relates to improvements in pipe joints of the universal type, and is well adapted for use in the end portions of rallway train pipes to provide the necessary flexible or articulated terminals which facilltate the coupling and uncoupling of such pipes between the coaches.

It is an object of the invention to provide a relatively simple and durable packing which may be quickly removed and re laced when worn out. Another object of tie invention is to provide a pipe joint which will offer a minimum degree of resistance to relative movement'of its parts when flexed under steam pressure. A third object of the invention is to provide a pipe coupling the parts of which may be quickly separated and reassembled, for purposes'of repair or renewal, without liability of accidental separation.

In the accompanying drawings illustratin the preferred form of the invention,

igurel is a longitudinal section, through .a pipe coupling embodying the invention,

along the line 11 of,Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, parts being shown in cross section along the line 2+2 of Fig. 1, i

Fig. 3 is a view of a ball retaining ring removed from the socket member of the coupling. 5

Fig. 4 is a reduced scale side View of the assembled coupling.

The invention as herein disclosed comprises a coupling of the ball and socket type,

. comprising a male or ball member 10 and a female or socket member 11.

The male member may comprise a pipe fitting threaded at one end as at 12 to receive a pipe coupling, and terminating at the opposite end ina ball like portion 13 having a smooth spherical external surface 142 This ball-like element is open at the end 15 for the passage of fluid.

The female member of the coupling comprises a body portion 16 threaded at one end asat 17 to receive a pipe end 18. The opcoupling is providedwith a separable retaining ring 19, having an inturned retaining flange 20 at its outer end for a purpose which will hereinafter be explained.

To provide for the attachment and detachment of the two parts of the socket member, the body portion is provided with a number of circumferentially disposed wedgeshaped lugs 21 spaced circumferentia 1y about the same, and the retaining ring may be provided with a like plurality of hookshaped elements 22 having inclined surfaces to engage and cooperate with the surfaces of the wedge-shaped elements 21. The two parts of the socket member may, therefore, be quickly assembled by an endwise movement sufficient to pass the ends of the hook-shaped elements between the ends of the Wedgeshaped lugs, after which the parts of the fastening means may be brought into an interlocking relation by a slight relative rota-- tion between the body portion of the socket member and the retainlng ring.

If desired, means may be provided whereby the retaining ring and the body portion of the socket member may be locked in their clamped relation. This may be effected by the use of one or more cotter pins 23 assed through adjacent portions of the inter ocked parts, aligned openings therein being pro: vided in proper positions for such purpose.

When the pipe coupling is in service, the pressure of the contained fluid constantly tends to separate the two parts of the pipe joint by relative endwise movement, thus.

setting up opposed forces between the ballshapedportion of the ball element and that part of the socket element by which it is retained in place. These forces have a tendency to prevent relative movement of the two parts of the joint. It is one purpose of this invention toreduce to a minimum such resistance to relative motion. With this ob ject in view, it is the purpose of the inven tion to provide a ball element and retaining surfaces such as will always maintain an annular line contact. This may be effected means each having smooth, convex, curved by the use "of a ball element of spherical form and an annular retaining member which aflords a circular orificethe mouth or throat ofwhich has an inwardly disposed, convex, curved surface. This curved surface might be a part of the retaining ring 19, but, as herein disclosed, comprises a polished ring 24, of circular cross section,

retained in place by the flange 20 of the retaining ring 19. If desired, this ring may be of the split-ring type, as indicated in Fi 3, of such dimensions as to have its en s 25 brought together when the ring 24 is inserted in the retaining ring.

The degree of friction may be further reduced by making the ring 24 and the ball element 10 of different materials. Preferably the ball element will be constructed of brass and the ring 24 of steel. It will be obvious that the ball element may, within limits, be moved in any desired direction relative to the socket element, during which a circular line contact will always be maintained between the ball'shaped portion 13 of the ball member and the ring 24 of the socket member.

A third feature of the invention comprises an improved packing to effect a fluid-tight joint between the ball member and the socket member. As indicated at 26, Fig. 1, this packing comprises an annulus of vulcanized asbestos, fibre or other suitable moistureproof and heat-resisting material, having an outer cylindrical surface 27 conforming with the inner surface of the socket member and a conical inner surface 28 adapted to make contact with the smooth spherical surface of the ball "13. Although 1packin of the character described is of t e sel packing type, it is essential that it be maintained in its normal position when pressure is relieved. To this end, there is provided a spring 29 confined between the end of the socket member and a follower ring 30, of metal or other suitable material, prefer ably having a conical surface 31 in engagement with a rearwardly directed conical surface 32 ofthe packing.

If desired, the packing 27 may be constructed in two like arts and assembled back to back, the place 0 separation of such parts being indicated at 33.

The conical surface 31 of the follower ring should approximately conform with the conical surface 3201f the packing ring. In the preferred form of the invention, however, the surface 31 will be given a slightly greater degree of flare than the surface 32, as indicated in Fig. 1, whereby the ressure exerted by the spring 29 upon the fo ower ring will have a tendency to localize a wedging effect upon the thinner portion of the packing and tend to maintain the same in snug contact with the inner surface of the socket. The spring and follower ring also tend to maintain the ball 13 in its normal position in engagement with the polished ring 24, with the packing snugly wedged into the space between the ball and the socket.

en the pipe joint is subjected to fluid pressure, there is a constant tendenc irres ctive of the spring 29, to maintaln the pee ing in fluid-tight relation with the ball within the sco provided with perforated cars 34, Fig. 4,

whereby the jointed portion of the pipe may be suspended from some permanent part of the structure in association with which it is used. The socket member may also be provided with ribs 35 to facilitate the o eration of assembling and disassembling of t e parts of the pipe joint.

The foregoing pipe coupling is of relatively simple construction and may be readily assembled and disassembled for purposes of repair and renewal. The parts of the socket member may be quickly separated by removing the cotter pins and imparting a gentle tap to one or the other of the parts of the socket. The retaining ring 19 may then be removed by a partial rotation and endwise movement, thus permitting the ball and packing elements to be readily withdrawn. lNhen the packing is made in the preferred form, comprising two rings in back-to-back relation as indicated, a leak resulting from overwear of one of said. rings may be repaired either by supplying a new ring or by inverting the two, as circumstances may demand. After'the interchange of parts or renewal ball member is again replaced and secured an endwise application of the retaining ring followed by a slight rotation and tap of a hammer or other bar of metal to bring the parts into proper relative position for the insertion of the cotter ins.

In actual service, the single annulus of packing material between the ball and the socket has been found to give satisfactory service, and the line contact between the brass surface of the ball and curved surface of the polished affording a relatively small resistance to movement between the ball member and the socket member of the ipe joint when subjected to relatively high pressure.

he invention is not intended to be limited to Specific features of the referred form herein disclosed, but is inten ed to 'include modifications and variations thereof pe of the appended claims.

What Is claimed is:

1. A universal pipe joint of the ball and socket type, comprising a ball member terminating in a ball having a smooth convex spherical outer surface, a socket member having retaining means to limit the movement of said ball in the direction of separation only, a fluid-tight acking of annular form aving oppositeF-dis sed annular wedge-like portions de ed b; an external cylindrical surface conforming with the has been effected, the

the smooth steel ring provides an efiioient anti-friction bearing.

. inner surface of the socket member and a surface of said ball and said socket member. pair of internal conical surfaces of gentle 3. A flexible pipe joint having relatively slope flaring outwardly from within said movable parts, an annular packing rin packing toward its ends, a follower ring for therefor having a portion of wedge-shape said packing, and aspringsto'maintain said cross-section bounded by surfaces one of packing with one of its en wedged between which is conical, a follower ring of rigid said ball and the surface of said socket memmaterial having a conical surface approxiber and its other end wedged between said mately conforming with that of the packmg' ring-and said surface, whereby said packing ring but having a slightly greater degree of is expanded into close 00' tact with the surflare, whereby a wedging action may be 10- face. of said socket member and said ball calized between'the follower ring and the member is maintained in a normal position thinner portion of the packing ring, and a in contact with said retaining means but spring to maintain a constant wedge-effectmay be rotated about its longitudinal axis ing relationship between said packing ring isor swung through a limited degree of arc and said follower ring.

in any direction, the follower ring having a 4. A pipe joint of the ball and-socket type conical surface approximately conforming comprisin a ball member terminat' in with that of the a jacent end of the packing a brass ba 1 having a smooth convex sp eribut having aslight wherebya wed ing action may be localized an inturned fla e at its open end, an .annubetweenlthe f0 ower;ring and thethinner lar polished 'stee ring of circular cross secportiog of the end of the packing engaged ,tion housed within said socket member .and

y sai rm 2. A flexible pipe joint ofthe ball and formingv a ball retaining element affording socket type comprising a ball 'membertermia-line contact with said ball, and a fluid-tight natingin a brass ball having asmooth con-' packing between said ball and said socket vex spherical outersurface, a. socket member member. I havinga steel ball retaining portion. of an In witness whereof, I have hereunto nular form affording" a smooth convex signed my name.

curved surface in line contact with said I ball, and a fluid-tight packing betw'eehthe. EDWARD E. GOLD,

y greater degree of flare, 1 cal outer surface, a socket member having I retained in place by said flange, said'ring 

